…Publishers feel the need to have different book titles for the same books in different countries?
For instance, Karin Slaughter’s last Grant County book, was called Beyond Reach in the US, and Skin Privilege everywhere else.
Why?
Copyright © 2023 by Karen Scott. All rights reserved.
Scott
March 25
10:13 am
I don’t understand this either. This happens a lot, in all genres. In only one instance did I see it as understood, when the original British version was called something that could be seen as derogatory in the US. But other then that, it seems to make no sense. Maybe other then some publisher exec thinking they need to throw their weight around and force a different title that they like better for the book.
Kat
March 25
10:53 am
I’m pretty sure it’s a marketing thing.
Roslyn Holcomb
March 25
11:54 am
Some words and phrases have different meaning depending on the culture. I don’t know anything about this book, but to me the phrase ‘skin privilege’ might well have negative connotations to Americans.
Marg
March 25
12:08 pm
I don’t know why, but it drives me nuts when it happens!
Karen Scott
March 25
12:11 pm
Ros, what are the negative connotaions surrounding ‘Skin Privilege’? In England I think it just means being able to be intimate with somebody, does it have a different meaning in the US?
Barbara B.
March 25
1:26 pm
Karen Scott said-
“Ros, what are the negative connotaions surrounding ‘Skin Privilege’? In England I think it just means being able to be intimate with somebody, does it have a different meaning in the US?”
For me, an African-American, Skin Privilege sounds like a good title for a book on the study of whiteness in America. It makes me think of the book, How The Irish Became White, by Noel Ignatiev. Of course I can’t say that’s how the intended audience for the book (the majority U.S. group) would see it. I can’t help but think, however, that it would sound racially evocative to others as well.
Anon76
March 25
2:30 pm
It’s all about marketing for different countries/cultures, or so they say. While this strategy works up to a point, some execs take it way over the top.
Kinda like the Chevy Nova urban legend. No real proof has ever been presented that low sales of this car in Spanish speaking countries were caused by the name.
Roslyn Holcomb
March 25
8:31 pm
Karen, in this country the term ‘skin privilege’ usually comes up as it pertains to race relations. Most often ‘white skin privilege.’ You might recall the absolutely explosive response some of your posters had when I discussed this issue in regard to racism in romance.
SarahT
March 25
8:42 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t Karin Slaughter’s respective US/UK publishers release the book simultaneously? In other words, there was no need for the US publisher to choose a different title to avoid offending people. They could have both used the same one.
I really hate title changes. I actually bought Diana Gabaldon’s ‘Cross Stitch’ before realising it was ‘Outlander’.